It happened that while ^aApollos was in ^bCorinth, Paul went through the ^cupper inland districts and came down to ^dEphesus, and found some disciples. 2 He asked them, “^aDid you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed in Jesus as the Christ?” And they said, “No, ^bwe have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he asked, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “^aInto John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “^aJohn performed a baptism of repentance, continually telling the people ^bto believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, to confidently accept and joyfully believe in Jesus the Messiah and Savior.” 5 After hearing this, they were ^abaptized again, this time in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul ^alaid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began ^bspeaking in unknown tongues (languages) and ^cprophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 And he went into ^athe synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and arguing and persuading them ^babout the kingdom of God. 9 But when ^asome were becoming hardened and disobedient to the word of God, discrediting and speaking evil of ^1bthe Way (Jesus, Christianity) before the congregation, Paul left them, taking ^cthe disciples with him, and went on holding ²daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus instead of in the synagogue. 10 This continued for ^atwo years, so that all the inhabitants of the west coast province of ^bAsia Minor, Jews as well as Greeks, heard ^cthe word of the Lord concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ.

11 God was doing ^aextraordinary and unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 ^aso that even handkerchiefs or face-towels or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and ^bthe evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the traveling Jewish ^aexorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I implore you and solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14 Seven sons of one named Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit retorted, “I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?” 16 Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued ¹all of them and overpowered them, so that they ran out of that house in terror, stripped naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all who lived in ^aEphesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified and exalted. 18 Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their former sinful practices. 19 And many of those who had practiced magical arts collected their books and throwing book after book on the pile began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be ¹50,000 ^apieces of silver. 20 So ^athe word of the Lord concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ ^bwas growing greatly and prevailing.

21 Now after these events, Paul determined in the Spirit that ^ahe would travel through ^1bMacedonia and ^cAchaia (most of the Greek mainland) , and ^dgo to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, ^eI must also see Rome and preach the good news of salvation.” 22 And after sending two of ^ahis assistants, ^bTimothy and ^1cErastus, to ^dMacedonia ahead of him, he stayed on in the west coast province of ^eAsia Minor for a while.

23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning ^athe Way (Jesus, Christianity) . 24 Now a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of the goddess Artemis (Diana) , ^awas bringing no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 These craftsmen he called together, along with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you are well aware that we make a good living from this business. 26 You see and hear that not only at ^aEphesus, but almost all over the province of ^bAsia, this Paul has persuaded people to believe his teaching and has misled a large number of people, claiming that ^cgods made by human hands are not really gods at all. 27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will be discredited, but also that the magnificent ¹temple of the great goddess ²Artemis will be discredited, and that she whom all ^aAsia and ^bthe world worship will even be dethroned and lose her glorious magnificence.”

28 When they heard this, they were filled with rage, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the ^aEphesians!” 29 Then the city was filled with confusion; and people rushed together as a group into the amphitheater, dragging along with them ^aGaius and ^bAristarchus, ^cMacedonians who were Paul’s ^dtraveling companions. 30 Paul wanted to go into the pagan assembly, but ^athe disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the Asiarchs (officials) who were his friends sent word to him and repeatedly warned him not to venture into the amphitheater. 32 ^aNow some shouted one thing and some another, for the gathering was in confusion and most of the people did not know ¹why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd advised Alexander to speak, since the Jews had pushed him forward; and Alexander ^amotioned with his hand for attention and intended to make a defense to the people. 34 But when they realized that he was a Jew, a single outcry went up from the crowd as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 After the town ¹clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of ^aEphesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of that ²sacred stone image of her which fell from the sky? 36 So, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and stay calm and not do anything rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither ^atemple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and ^aproconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another there. 39 But if you want anything beyond this, it will be settled in the lawful assembly. 40 For we are running the risk of being accused of rioting in regard to today’s events, and since there is no reason for it, we will be unable to give an account and justify this disorderly gathering.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.